Modern History - All lessons
- Flourishing Officers: The company's officers, flush with prosperity, returned to Britain, establishing estates, businesses, and even political power.
- Lobbying Power: The Company cultivated influence within the English parliament, shaping policies to its advantage.
- The Dawn of Deregulation: Amid pressure from ambitious tradesmen, a 1694 act deregulated trade, ending the century-old charter's dominance.
- Parallel Ventures: A new East India Company emerged in 1698, swiftly gaining traction under a state-backed indemnity of £2 million.
- Dominance Asserted: The formidable stockholders of the old company subscribed £315,000, driving the new entity's dominance.
- Tumultuous Duels: Both Companies battled fiercely in England and India, vying for supremacy in a trade tug-of-war.
- Unpredictable Merger: In 1708, a tripartite indenture melded the companies, lending £3,200,000 for exclusive privileges.
- Legacy of Conflict: Decades witnessed a seesaw battle between Company lobby and Parliament, each vying for control.
- Bengal's Turmoil: From 1757 to 1765, nawabs ruled Bengal, but sovereignty slipped into British hands amid struggle.
- Prosperous Bengal: The fertile province thrived industrially and commercially, attracting the East India Company's interests.
- Royal Farman's Impact: Privileges under a royal farman kindled conflict, as Company's power clashed with Nawabs' authority.
- Misuse and Manipulation: Company's servants misused farman's power, evading taxes and sparking perpetual tension.
- Clash of Interests: Conflicts ensued as Nawabs sought compensation, leading to tense confrontations and defiance.
- Prelude to Plassey: Defiance, allegiances, and French suspicions set the stage for the pivotal Battle of Plassey.
- Black Hole Tragedy: The infamous incident of 1756, where captured Englishmen faced dire suffocation, marked a turning point.
- Echoes of Conspiracy: The incident triggered a conspiracy against the Nawab, involving alliances and covert maneuvers.
- March to Plassey: Robert Clive led English forces towards Plassey, where Mir Jafar's allegiances became a critical factor.
- Calculated Victory: The Battle of Plassey was more than mere military might – a well-crafted conspiracy ensured English triumph.
- Fruits of Alliance: Mir Jafar's allegiance earned him rewards, including significant payments to the Company.
- Shifting Fortunes: Mir Jafar's fortunes waned, suspicions and collaboration concerns led to his eventual deposition.
- British Ascendancy: Mir Qasim assumed the throne, aligning with the British for campaigns and consolidating their power.
- Battle of Buxar: The combined might of three powers faced off against the English, leading to a decisive English victory.
- Shifting Landscapes: Awadh's fate and Emperor Shah Alam II's collaboration shaped the new political landscape.
- Treaty of Allahabad: Lord Clive's treaty with Nawab of Awadh secured British dominance and territorial concessions.
- Empire's Dawn: Shah Alam II granted Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the British, marking a new era of power.
- Mastery Asserted: The Battle of Buxar heralded English mastery over Bengal, affirming their unchallenged supremacy.
- First Governor General: Robert Clive's success earned him the title of the first Governor General, overseeing the empire's growth.
- Dual Government: Diwani and Nizamat functions melded in a dual government, altering the administrative landscape.
- Nominal Authority: The Nawab's role diminished, with the Company wielding substantial control over revenue and governance.